Huchuy Qosqo Day Hike: A Short Trek to the “Little Cusco” Lost in Time

Huchuy Qosqo Day Hike

The Huchuy Qosqo hike offers a short trek through the stunning highland landscapes of Cusco, leading to an ancient Inca site lost in time. ...........

Description

Huchuy Qosqo was a town located at more than 3,550 m.s. on a small plateau at the top of a mountain. From here you can take beautiful views of the other side of the valley, it is possible to appreciate snow-capped mountains of exuberant beauty such as the snow-capped Pitusiray and at the bottom of this privileged view, the town of Calca.

It is known by the chroniclers that it was the Inca Wiracocha who ordered the construction of the city of Huchuy Qosqo; it is said that in his old age, he felt tired and wished to leave the government and move away from the movement of the capital of the Tahuantinsuyo empire (Cusco) and seek peace and tranquility in this place; it is built on a territory occupied by several human settlements, over time, these would be dominated and incorporated into the empire of the Incas. One of these settlements must have been on Huchuy Qosqo. The structures also have an architectural distribution similar to Cusco, so it has been called Huchuy Qosqo or small Cusco at the beginning of the twentieth century.

A characteristic of this architectural ensemble is the use of lithic material in combination with adobe and mud, as it demonstrates the knowledge and mastery of the construction materials used with high technology, especially adobe; the exposed walls constructed with this noble material, still defy the strong climatic inclemencies, the telluric movements and the inevitable passage of time

What to Expect

Quick Itinerary:

5:30 Pick you up from the hotel and transfer to Chinchero where you will appreciate the Archeological Complex of Chinchero and a living height of the Andean textile

7:00 Reach the Community of Tauca where you will appreciate the lagoon of Piuray

7:30 Start our walk until we reach the first Abra de Pucajasa (4,100 masl) for 10 minutes

7:40 Descend in approximately 1 hour 50 to the Archaeological Complex of Huchuy Qosqo

9:30 Visit to the Archaeological Complex for two hours of visit.

11:30 Continue our walk of a descent with a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the district of Lamay for 1 hour and 30 minutes

13:00 Return to the city of Cusco in our transport for 45 minutes.

Useful Information

Distance to travel: 14 km

Walking Time: From 7 to 8 hours including rest and stop for lunch.

Maximum Height: 4,393 meters above sea level

Difficulty: Moderate and with drops

Temperature: cold, with winds in the afternoon

Itinerary Details

Full Day Tour

Pick up from your hotel and go to our starting point, the Piuray lagoon, located near the town of Chinchero. We start our walk early in the morning so we can appreciate the sunlight falling on the snowy 'Veronica' and the whole Vilcabamba mountain range.

Our trek will be ascending at the beginning and then descending towards the high plateau, with impressive views of the snow-capped mountains on our way to the archaeological site of Huchuyqosqo. This place was a palace in Inca time, it has large structures made of stone and adobe built on the top of the mountain, with the sky as background and streams on both sides.

After a short rest under the shade of the trees of Queñua (Andean oak) and enjoying our lunch, we will continue our walk through the open field and then zigzag downhill on one side of the mountain. Our transport awaits us in the town of Lamay to take us back to Cusco. During this walk, we will not meet other tourists, only with farmers working their land and their children playing freely around. If you want to experience the true Andean culture, this tour is the ideal one.

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Included

Not Included

Essential Information

Information about Huchuy Qosqo ruins

Where is Huchuy Qosqo located?

Huchuy Qosqo is located in the peasant community of the same name, just under 5 km from the city of Calca in the department of Cusco, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas; exactly on a summit at 570 m. on the Urubamba river basin (Vilcanota). The Huchuy Qosqo route is very beautiful; walking its trails will allow you to visit some Andean communities, archaeological centers and enjoy beautiful landscapes. Many people take advantage of visiting Huchuy Qosqo on their trip to Machu Picchu.

What does Huchuy Qosqo mean?

Huchuy Qosqo means "Little Cusco", but it also has other names; one would be Qaqyaxaqixawana and another Qaqyaqhawana, this means "from where the rays are observed"; And it is certainly a good name since being 800 meters above the Sacred Valley of the Incas, gives you the opportunity to see the dramatic light and sound show, at the moment when lightning and thunder descend from the sky to crash against the I usually. Others say that the site was probably known in Inca times as “Caquia Jaquijahuana”.

Huchuy Qosqo Archaeological Complex (Qaqyaqawana)

The enclosure located in Huchuy Qosqo, is called Qaqyaqawana; Quechua name that refers to the place where the lightning is seen. This archaeological complex is located in the upper third of the mountain called Qaqya (thunder), and exhibits one of the most impressive works of topographic modification through the use of terraces, modulating the edges of precipices and vertical ravines on the Vilcanota Valley, culminating on platforms that were used as ceremonial esplanades, around which several architectural structures made of stone and adobe can still be found standing. Materials used and worked with great criteria, achieving a fine finish.

In addition, the structures of the enclosure are distributed in such a way that they architecturally resemble the city of Cusco; It is for this reason that at the beginning of the 20th century it received the name of Huchuy Qosqo (small Cusco). One of the most outstanding characteristics of this archaeological complex is the use of lithic material combined with adobe and clay. This shows the knowledge and mastery of the different construction materials, used with high technology, especially adobe; the centuries-old walls built of this material still defy the severe inclement weather in the area, seismic movements and of course the passage of time.

What to see in Huchuy Qosqo (Qaqyaqawana)?

Here is a list of what you can see at Huchuy Qosqo; At the moment you do not need any ticket, or pay to enter Huchuy Qosqo.

A structure with three levels (floors), the first two in the form of regular polyhedra, and the last floor made of adobe. The enclosure is rectangular in shape and enormously architectural.
A long rectangular building made of adobones on an eminent platform, this building has a large number of doors facing the valley.
You will find many other smaller enclosures scattered, most of them are in poor condition. Very close to these ruins, you will find an Inca trail oriented to Cusco Inca Trail oriented to Cusco. Also some small loose enclosures such as outposts and surveillance located on the edge of the precipice, in order to have the largest possible visual field of the valley.

Walk to Machu Picchu through Huchuy Qosqo:

The walk to Machu Picchu along the Huchuy Qosqo route is one of the shortest in Cusco; since an average of 17 kilometers is traveled by walking. This route was developed for people who do not have much time. But even so, they want to take a walking tour before reaching the great Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu. It is very ideal for people who like to enjoy nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the restless city.

During this walk, we will be able to appreciate the signs of the Inca constructions; some Inca stairs and small doors with Inca decorations until reaching the Wonder of Huchuy Qosqo. Which is situated on the mountains of the Sacred Valley of the Incas; Likewise, from this point you can appreciate the impressive panoramic view of the entire Cordillera del Vilcanota with its imposing snow-capped peaks.

After enjoying this wonderful architectural construction, we will descend to the town of Lamay; where we will take our bus to go to Ollantaytambo to go to the train station and go to Aguas Calientes. Where we will spend the night so that early the next day we will board the first bus that will take us to the ruins of Machupicchu.

Some recommendations:

The entrance fee to Huchuy Qosqo is 22 soles for adults, 10 soles for students (foreigners and nationals pay the same).
To carry out this walk acclimatization is necessary; That is why, to achieve a good acclimatization, you should rest as much as possible, eat little, drink liquids and especially drink coca tea. Coca has known healing and digestive properties. This will prevent you from getting altitude sickness or soroche.
Undeniable being absorbed by so much architectural beauty left by the Incas. It is amazing that, to date, we have not been able to explain how the Incas came to develop such precise architectural techniques.

Packing List

Doubts and Frequent Questions about Huchuy Qosqo Day Hike

Is the trek difficult? Do I need to be in good physical condition?

The trek is considered moderately difficult, long. We recommend you should be in relatively good physical condition, in addition to acclimatize. Therefore, we suggest you arrive in Cusco at least 02 days before your departure from the trek to adapt to the altitude. During the two months prior to your walk we suggest a regular and moderate routine to improve endurance. We want you to have the best possible experience!

I have a food allergy. Can I still participate?

Of course, just inform us in detail your allergic condition at the time of making your reservation, as well as the severity of your reaction and any medication you take in case of emergency.

If your allergy is severe, we ask that you be accompanied by a friend or conscientious person and totally responsible for your situation and ready with any medication.

When should I arrive in Cusco?

We require that all clients arrive in Cusco at least 48 hours before the start of their trek, although 03 nights before is ideal. You must pay your remaining balance a day before your departure for your trip. This will also ensure that you can acclimatize to the altitude to start your hike comfortably. Please note that your remaining balance must be paid in cash during the briefing.

Are the walking sticks necessary?

For this walk, we recommend the walking sticks, especially for people with knee problems. The trail is full of steep and steep climbs, narrow Inkas stairs. These will help in your balance and reduce the impact on your knees.

Where can I keep my luggage that I do not need to take to the walk?

Any luggage that is not necessary for your walk can be stored at your hotel in Cusco (most hotels offer this service free of charge). In the event that your hotel does not offer this service, we will store your luggage safely in our office.

What is the best date to take a walk?

The best time to take a walk in good weather is between the months of April - October, since we have the presence of clear skies and, on a smaller scale, fluvial rainfall.

The driest months are between June - August, which is winter in the Andes.

From January to March is summer in Peru, which means the rainy season for Cusco and especially the Inka Trail.

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